The short answer
The Social Security Fairness Act repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, two rules that had reduced Social Security benefits for many people who worked in jobs not covered by Social Security, such as some teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other public employees. With the repeal, affected workers and their spouses and survivors can receive fuller Social Security benefits than the old rules allowed. If you or a family member had benefits reduced by WEP or GPO, this change may increase what you receive.
So the Fairness Act removed the WEP and GPO reductions, restoring fuller Social Security benefits for many public-sector workers and their families.
What WEP and GPO did
The Windfall Elimination Provision reduced a worker's own Social Security benefit if they also had a pension from work not covered by Social Security. The Government Pension Offset reduced spousal or survivor Social Security benefits for people receiving such a pension, sometimes eliminating them entirely. Both provisions were long criticized as unfair to public servants who also paid into Social Security through other work. With them repealed, those reductions no longer apply.
The two provisions cut benefits for people with non-covered pensions, and their repeal restores the amounts those reductions had removed.
What it means for you
If your Social Security benefit, or a spousal or survivor benefit, was reduced because of a public pension, the repeal may raise your monthly amount. Affected beneficiaries should check how the change applies to their record and benefit. Because the details depend on your work history and pension, and rules can be nuanced, verify your situation with the Social Security Administration or a qualified professional. Our guide to a Social Security strategy for couples covers coordinating benefits, and our retirement income guide covers the broader plan.
The takeaway: the Social Security Fairness Act repealed WEP and GPO, so if a public pension reduced your benefit, check whether your amount should now be higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Social Security Fairness Act?
A law that repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, two rules that had reduced Social Security benefits for many public workers with pensions from non-covered jobs.
What did the WEP and GPO do?
The WEP reduced a worker's own benefit if they had a pension from non-covered work; the GPO reduced spousal or survivor benefits for those with such a pension, sometimes eliminating them.
Will my Social Security benefit increase after the repeal?
If your own, spousal, or survivor benefit was reduced by WEP or GPO, the repeal may raise it. Check how the change applies to your record with the Social Security Administration.
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